Microneedling and Skincare: What to Use Around Your Sessions
Microneedling doesn’t happen in isolation from the rest of your skincare routine — what you use before and after sessions can genuinely affect both comfort and results. Here’s a clear breakdown.
In the Days Before Your Session
What to avoid: Retinol, exfoliating acids (AHAs/BHAs), and other strong active ingredients should be paused for several days before treatment, as they can increase skin sensitivity right when you want your skin at its calmest.
What’s fine to continue: Gentle cleansers and basic, fragrance-free moisturisers are generally fine to keep using right up until your session.
Immediately After Treatment
What to use: A simple, hydrating, fragrance-free moisturiser or a recommended post-treatment product helps support your skin barrier as it begins healing. Your practitioner may recommend something specific depending on your skin type.
What to avoid: Makeup, active ingredients, and anything heavily fragranced should be avoided for at least the first 24 hours, giving freshly treated skin space to begin its healing response without additional irritation.
The First Few Days of Healing
Keep it simple. This isn’t the time to introduce new products or experiment with your routine — stick to gentle, familiar basics while your skin completes its initial healing phase.
Sun protection is non-negotiable. Freshly treated skin is more vulnerable to UV damage, so daily SPF becomes especially important in the days following treatment, even more than usual.
When to Reintroduce Your Normal Routine
Most clients can gradually return to their regular skincare routine, including active ingredients, within about a week — though this varies by individual and treatment intensity, so it’s worth confirming timing with your practitioner rather than guessing.
Products That Can Complement Results
Once healing is complete, gentle, collagen-supportive ingredients (like peptides or vitamin C, introduced gradually) can complement the results your sessions are building, though this is very individual and worth discussing based on your specific skin.
Why This Timing Matters
Following the right product timeline helps your skin heal cleanly between sessions and supports the collagen-building process microneedling relies on — rushing back to a full active routine too soon can undermine what each session is working to achieve.
Getting Personalised Guidance
Since skin types and routines vary so much, it’s worth discussing your specific products during consultation so you get tailored guidance rather than generic advice.
Want personalised guidance on your skincare routine around treatment? Get in touch via WhatsApp, DM, or call/text 07889467434 to book a consultation in Cheadle, Stockport.
